Car seat



Jan. 12, 1937. J. M. KNIGHT ET A1.

CAR SEAT Filed Deo. 9, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 12, 1937. J. M. KNIGHT ET Al. 2,067,668

CAR SEAT Filed Dec. 9, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2i Patented Jan. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAR SEAT Application December 9, 1930, Serial No. 501,004

26 Claims. (Cl. 155-96) This invention relates to seats and has particular reference to seats for railway cars which are adapted to be revolved in a horizontal plane to face toward either end of the car.

One object of this invention is the provision of a car seat, the seat portion of which is adapted to be first shifted horizontally and then rotated to reverse the position thereof.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a car seat having a horizontally shiftable seat plate carrier which rotatably mounts a seat plate normally maintained in a predetermined position, but which may be rotated relative to the seat plate carrier to reverse the position of the seat.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a railway car seat having a horizontally shiftable seat plate carrier which latter carries a seat plate adapted for rotation relative thereto, and means for retaining the seat plate in proper position with respect to the seat plate carrler.

Other objects and advantages Vof this invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the car seat, certain parts being broken away and other parts being shown in section, the gure also showing, diagrammatically, a portion of the seat body frame.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the seat of theV present invention with the seat body removed.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3--3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 vis a top plan view of the seat of the present invention, with the seat plate and seat body removed to clearly show the seat plate carrier.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View of the seat plate carrier and seat plate showing a modified form of retaining means for the seat plate.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view showing the seat plate carrier and seat plate and another modification of retaining means for the seat plate.

Fig. '7 is a sectional View showing a modified form of connecting the seat plate to the seat plate carrier.

Fig 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the seat of the present invention showing a modified form of supporting means for the seat plate carrier to permit the same to shift horizontally, and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9, Fig. ure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the severalviews, the seat of the present invention includes a pedestal indicated generally at A which ismore or less of box shape and comprises the side and end walls 2 and 4 respectively and a flared base 6 defining an attaching flange for securing the seat to a support. The pedestal is provided with a top Wall 8 across which are secured spaced brackets l0, the ends of which extend beyond the side walls 2 and are provided with bearing portions l2 for supporting guide rods I4 arranged parallel to the side walls 2 as shown more clearly in Fig. 4.

Supported for sliding movement on the guide rods I4 which serve as tracks is a body supporting device formed of connected elements comprising a seat plate carrier i6 and a seat plate 28. The seat plate carrier is preferably of the form shown more clearly in Figs. l and 4 and comprises a substantially rectangular frame I8 having end rails I9 and 2| respectively, said frame being further provided with bearings 20 slidably mounted on the guide rods I4 whereby the seat plate carrier issupported. The seat plate carrier also includes a vertically arranged circular flange 22 and an upwardly extending annular guide rib 24 spaced inwardly from the flange 22 and concentrically arranged with respect to the latter; the flange 22 and guide rib 24 defining therebetween an annular recess 24 into which the depending annular flange 26 of the seat plate extends to be supported; the ange 26 tting around the guide rib 24 and the latter yconstituting a hub which defines the axis of rotation of the seat plate as will be apparent from the following description. The recess 24' is also adapted to receive grease or other suitable lubricant. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the flange 26 is offset from the remainder of the seat plate 28 thereby providing a shoulder 29 the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. As shown clearly in Fig. 1, the rib 24 is of substantially the same height as the depending flange 26 of the seat plate and serves to support a retaining element which, in Fig. 1, is shown as a continuous ring 30 secured to the rib 24 by suitable fasteners 32 and overlapping the shoulder 29 to retain the seat plate against vertical shifting relative to the seat plate carrier.

The top 8 of the pedestal is provided with an elongated opening 34 into which extends a projection 35 formed With and depending from the seat plate carrier; said projection being preferably stiffened by ribs 38. Inside the pedestal and adjacent one end wall 4 thereof is a diaphragm 40 to which is secured a foot pedal 42 of angle shape, leg 44 thereof being pivotally secured to a link 46 which extends through projection 36 and has a nut 48 secured to the end thereof. The nut 48 carries an eye 50 to which one end of a spring 512 is connected. The opposite end of spring 52 is secured to a rod 54 extended through a slotted angle 56 and through the adjacent end wall 4 of the pedestal and retained in position by a nut 58.

In order to permit assembly ofthe spring r5l. and rod 54, and also to permit accessl to the interior of the pedestal should repairs be necessary, the end wall 4 opposite the foot"piedal42 is provided with an opening 59 which is normally' closed by a plate 6| having a pocket 63 formedv It has been` therein which covers the nut 58. found advisable also to cover the guideirods, the brackets and carrier bearings and to that end shields 65 are provided as clearly shown in Figs. 2., 3 and 4. l

The guide rod bracket lll adjacent the spring 52 is provi'ded'with ya vertical stud 60 approximately midway between the ends thereof and said stud serves to mount a roller 62 the purpose of which will be :presently described. This stud 60 is formed integral with the guide rod bracket IU anda portion thereof defines an abutment 6l against which the contiguous end rail I9 of the seat plate-carrier is adapted to contact to limit the shifting of said carrier in one direction as hereinafter more fully described. The opposite bracket I is provided with an abutment 6d for limitingV horizontal shifting of the carrier I6 in the opposite direction as hereinafter described.

YAs before mentioned the seat of the present invention is adaptedk to be rotated in a horizontal plane and .this results from the particular arrangement of Ipar-ts and the construction of the seat plate and its association with the seat plate carrier. As shown 'clearly in the drawings the seat plate comprises ya ycircular portion 64 from which front and rear bars or arms 66 and 681 respectively extend, -said arms serving to support the seat body'frame yor cushion frame I0 of the seat. Formed with the seat plate at diametrically opposite points are stops l2 the effective areas 'I3 thereof being arranged in substantially the same vertical plane. In the instance illustrated in the drawings the stops 'l2 are shown as extending from `land formed integral with the rear arm'68, Vthough obviously this is merely by way of example, as the construction shown is susceptible /of various modifications. Arranged beneath the front arms 66 is a horizontally extending arcuate roller flange 14 the ends of which terminate adjacent the stops 'l2 and dene with said stops, slots 'I6 lin which the before mentiened roller 62 i's-farranged when the seat is in either of its normal positions. The roller 62 does not function `as a means lfor. limiting the shifting movement of the seat plate carrier. vHorizontal shifting of the seat plate carrier is limited, as before mentioned, by contact of the end rails i9 and 21| with the abutments 6l and 69. The roller 62 serves to prevent rotation vof the seat plate ring member 26. As shown clearly in Fig. 9, when the seat plate carrier is in its normal position a distinct space 63 `is present between the roller and the ring member 26.

'I'he particular means for retaining the seat plate in position is susceptible Vof many variations, yof which several are 'shown in the drawings.

' to the rib 24 and overlying the shoulder 28.

In Fig. the inner surface of the rib 24 is threaded to receive an angle shaped retainer ring 18, lug 8E] of which overlies the shoulder 29 of the flange 26. In Fig. 6 a plurality of retainers are provided, the same comprising plates 82 secured In Fig. 7 the outer surface of rib 24 threadedly receives the ange 26 of the seat plate whereby to support the seat plate and retain the same against 'relative vertical shifting with respect to the seat plate carrier. The connection of the seat plate and the seat plate carrier in Fig. 7, while being a threaded one is nevertheless of such a character as to permit rotation of the seat plate relative to thefcarrier to obtain a reversal of the position of the seat body. v l

\Fig. 8 discloses a modification of the means for permitting shifting of the seat plate carrier and seat plate. In this instance the guide rods i4 are eliminatedand the side walls 2 of the pedestal are provided with brackets 64k riveted or otherwise secured to the pedestal. rier in this instance is provided Vwith supporting portions 86 which rest on the brackets 34 and are slidable thereon. The brackets are generally Z- shaped in crossisection andthe upper edges therof are inturned as at 88 to overlap the supporting portions 86.

From the above description it is believed that the construction of the seat of the present invention will be fully apparent tol those skilled in the art. In operation, assuming the seat to be in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 and it is desired to reverse the position thereof, the foot pedal 42 is depressed whereupon the seat plate carrier and seat plate with the associated seat body will be shifted horizontally onthe guide rods I4 shown in Figs. 2 and 4 or on the brackets 34 shown in Fig. 8 until the end rail 2| of the frame of the seat plate carrier contacts with the abutment 6.9 formed on one of the brackets I0, as heretofore described. This horizontal shifting will move the seat plate to a position' such that the roller 52 will be freed from the slot 16 and the seat may then be rotated in a lclockwise direction (see Fig. 2), the roller 62 riding along the roller flange 'i4 until the seat body is reversed and the opposite slot 16 alined with the roller 62 whereupon the spring 52 will serve to return the seat'plate carrier, seat plate and seat body to its normal position. It will be obvious that the rib 'i4 ser-ves to retain the seat plate carrier and seat plate in horizontally shifted position during rotation of the seat plate until the seat is reversed, thereby eliminating the necessity of retaining the foot pedal 42 in depressed position during the time of rotation; the foot pedal therefore being only utilized to initially shift the seat plate carrier and seat plate to disengage the roller 62 from the slot 16.

The drawings herein illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that they are for illustrative purposes only and various changes in the form and proportions of the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: v v 1. In a shiftable and rotatable seat having a pedestal, a seat plate carrier slidably supported by the pedestal, a seat plate rotatably mounted on the carrier, stop means on the pedestal normally in cooperative relation with the seat plate toI restrain the latter against rotation, and lever actuated means connected to the carrier and operable The seat'plate carto shift the latter and said seat plate relative to the pedestal to free the seat plate from the stop means.

2. In a shiftable and rotatable seat having a base, a seat plate carrier shiftably supported by the base and arranged above the upper surface thereof, a seat plate supported by and rotatably mounted on the carrier, detachable means connected to the carrier and engaging the seat plate for retaining the latter against shifting relative to the carrier, a restraining element on the base normally in cooperative relation with the seat plate to prevent rotation of the latter, and lever means connected to the said carrier operable to shift the latter and the seat plate relative to the base to free the seat plate from the restraining element.

3. In a shiftable and rotatable seat having a pedestal, a seat plate carrier, tracks secured to the pedestal along opposite sides thereof, bearing members attached to the carrier and engaging the tracks to support said carrier for longitudinally shifting movement, said carrier being provided with an annular supporting surface and an annular hub adjacent the said supporting surface, a seat plate encircling said hub and rotatably mounted on the supporting surface, stop means on the pedestal adapted to cooperate with the seat plate to normally restrain the latter against rotation, said means including an abutment normally in contacting relation with the seat plate carrier, lever means for moving said carrier on the tracks whereby said carrier shifts the seat plate out of engagement with the stop means to free said seat plate for rotation from one position to another, and yielding means for returning the carrier and seat plate to normal position after shifting and rotation of said seat plate, the abutment contacting the said carrier to limit the return movement thereof.

4. In a seat, a pedestal, spaced track supporting brackets secured to the upper surface of the pedestal, a pair of tracks supported by the brackets, a seat plate carrier, bearings attached to the said carrier and slidably engaging the tracks to support the carrier for longitudinal shifting movement, said carrier including an annular hub, a seat plate supported by the carrier and encircling the hub, the latter defining an axis of rotation for said seat plate, a stud secured to one of said brackets and with which the carrier normally contacts, a roller carried by said stud and normally cooperating with the seat plate to restrain the latter against rotation, lever means for shifting said carrier longitudinally of the pedestal out of contact with said stud whereby to shift the seat plate to free the latter from its cooperative relation with the roller to permit rotation of said seat plate on the carrier, and resilient means connected to the pedestal and seat plate carrier for returning sai-d carrier and its associated seat plate to normal position after shifting, said carrier contacting with said stud whereby the latter limits the extent of return movement of said carrier.

5. In a shiftable and rotatable seat having a pedestal, a seat plate carrier slidably supported by the pedestal, a seat plate rotatably mounted on and secured against vertical shifting relative to the carrier. and manually operable means supported by the pedestal and connected with the carrier for sliding the carrier and seat plate horizontally.

6. In a shiftable and rotatable seat having a pedestal, a seat plate carrier horizontally shiftable on the pedestal, a seat plate rotatably mounted on the carrier, retaining means for preventing shifting of the seat plate relative to the carrier, a locking element carried by the pedestal and with which the seat plate is normally engaged in such a manner as to prevent rotation of the seat plate on the carrier, and actuating means connected to the carrier and operable for shifting the carrier and the seat plate horizontally to disengage the seat plate from the locking element.

'7. In a shiftable and rotatable seat having a pedestal, track members carried by the pedestal, a seat plate carrier mounted on and shiftable along the track members, a slotted seat plate rotatably mounted on said carrier, a locking element carried by the pedestal and normally arranged in a slot of the seat plate, and means on the pedestal connected to the carrier and operable for shifting the carrier and seat plate horizcntally relative to the pedestal to disengage the seat plate from the locking means.

8. In a` shiftable and rotatable seat having a base, a seat body supporting device shiftably supported by the base and including a rotatable seat plate, locking means on the base normally in cooperative relation with the seat plate to prevent rotation of the latter, lever means connected to the seat body supporting device and operable to shift the latter relative to the base to disengage the seat plate from the locking means, the seat plate being adapted to contact with the locking means during rotation of the seat plate to retain the seat body supporting device in shifted position during such rotation.

9. In a seat, a pedestal, a seat plate carrier supported by the pedestal, a seat plate connected tosaid carrier and rotatably mounted thereon, cooperating stop elements on the pedestal and seat plate adapted to normally restrain the seat plate against rotation, the stop element on said pedestal being provided with an abutment with which said carrier normally contacts, and lever actuated means supported by the pedestal and connected to the carrier, said lever actuated means being operable to shift said carrier and seat plate horizontally relative to the pedestal to disengage the before mentioned cooperating stop elements from each other.

10. In a seat, a pedestal, supporting rails secured to the pedestal, a two-part seat body supporting device supported by the rails, and lever means connected to the body supporting device for shifting the latter on the rails, one of the parts of said seat body supporting device being 4 rotatable relative to the other.

1l. In a seat, a pedestal, horizontally disposed supporting rails carried on the pedestal. a twopart seat body support slidably supported on said rails for movement thereon in a uniform horizontal plane and having one part thereof rotatably mounted on the other part, and means on the pedestal normally in cooperative relation with said rotatably mounted part in such a manner as to retain the latter in predetermined position.

12. In a seat, a pedestal. combined rail supporting bracket-s and stops secured to the pedestal, rails carried by said brackets. a seat body supporting device slidably mounted on the rails and adapted to cooperate with the stops to limit its sliding movement.

13. In a slidable seat having a pedestal, supporting elements arranged externally of and secured to the pedestal, a seat plate carrier slidably mounted on the supporting elements, a seat plate mounted on the seat plate carrier, locking` means on the pedestal withwhich the seat plate normally engages to'be held'against movementv relative to the seat plate carrier, and lever actuated mechanism supported by the pedestal and connected to the seat plate carrier, said mechanism being operable to shift the seat plate carrier and seat plate onI the supporting elements to free the seatplate from the locking means.

14. In a shiftable and rotatable seat having'a pedestal, a seat plate carrier supported by the pedestal and constituting a seat plate support, a seat plate rotatably mountedV on the seatplate carriena retaining element in cooperative relation with the seat plate carrier and seat plate adapted to restrain the seat plate against ver-v tical shifting lrelative to the seat plate carrier, a locking element supported by the pedestal and normally in engagement with the seat plate to restrain the latter against rotation, and actuating means Vsupported by the pedestal and connected tothe seat plate carrier, said means being operative to shift the seat plate carrier and seat plate relative to the pedestal to free the seat plate from the locking element.

15. In a shiftable and rotatable seat having a pedestal, track members secured to opposite sides of the pedestal, a seat plate carrier mounted on and capable of shifting along thev track members and provided with a supporting surface, a seat plate rotatably mounted on the supporting 'surface and having oppositely arranged out- Wardly opening slots, a locking element on the pedestal normally arranged in one of said slots, and actuating mechanism secured tothe pedestal and connected With the seat plate carrier, said mechanism being operative to shift the seat plate carrier and seat plate horizontally to release the seat plate from the locking element.

16. In a shiftable seat having a pedestal, a seat plate carrier supported by the pedestal and capable of horizontal shifting relative thereto, said seat plate carrier being provided with an annular supporting surface, a seat plate, an 01T- set annular ange depending from the seat plate and arranged on the supporting surface, retaining means secured to the seat plate carrier and lapping the offset ilange of the seat plate to restrain the latter against vertical shifting relative to the seat plate carrier, and actuating means connected to the seat plate carrier for shifting the latter and its associated seat plate horizontally relative to the pedestal. Y

17.4In a shiftable'and rotatable seat having a pedestal, a seat plate carrier horizontally shiftable on the pedestal, a seat plate rotatably mounted on the carrier, retaining means for preventing shifting of the seat plate relative to the seat plate carrier, a locking element secured to the pedestal and normally engaged with the seat plate to prevent rotation of the seat plate relative to the seat plate carrier, actuating means for shifting the seat plate carrier and seat plate horizontally to disengage the latter from the locking means, and a projecting flange on the seat plate adapted to engage the locking means during rotation of the seat plate.

18. In a shiftable and rotatable seat having a pedestal, track members carried by the pedestal, a seat plate carrier mounted on and shiftable along the track members, said seat plate carrier having an annular supporting surface, a seat plate, an annular supporting element formed with the seat plate and engaging the annular supporting surface to mount lthe seat plate for rotation, oppositely arranged stops secured to the seat plate, an arcuatei flangeA projectingrom;the.4

seat plate and having its ends arranged in spaced relation with respect to said stops to deilnewith; said stops oppositely extending horizontal slots, a locking element supported by the pedestal and normally arranged in one of said slots, and means on the pedestal connected to said seat plate carrier and operable for shifting the seat plate carrier and seat plate horizontally relative to the` pedestal to disengage the seat plate fromA the locking element whereby to permit rotation of the seat plate. 19. In a shift-able and rotatable seat having a pedestal, a seat plate carrier supported by the pedestal and having an upwardly extending annular threaded rib, a seat plate threadedly secured to said rib, means secured to the pedestal and normally engaged withY the seat plate to restrainthe latter against rotation and lever aotuated means for shifting the seat plate carrier horizontally to cause the seat plate to be released from the before mentioned restraining means.

20. In a shiftable and rotatable seat having a pedestal, spaced brackets secured to the pedestal and having their ends extended beyond the side walls thereof, track elements paralleling the side walls and supported by the brackets, aseatplate carrier slidably supported by the track elements, a seat plate rotatably mounted on `the carrier, locking means with which the seat plate is normally engaged to prevent rotation of said seat plate relative to the seat plate carrier and shiftable means secured to the pedestal and connected to the seat plate carrier Afor movingwthe carrier horizontally to disengage thea seat plate from the locking means. 21. In a shiftable and rotatable seat having a pedestal, a seat plate carrier, means on the pedestal supporting the seat plate lcarrier for horizontal shifting movement relative to the pedestal, a seat plate rotatably mounted on the seat plate carrier, locking means secured to the pedestal and Withvvhich the seat plate is normally engaged to be restrained against rotation :relative to the seat plate carrier, actuating means connected to the seat plate carrier andoperative to shift the seat plate 'carrier -and seat plate horizontally to release the seat plate from the locking means, and a flange on the seat plate adapted to engage the locking means during Arotation of the seat plate to restrain they seat plate carrier and seat plate against returningto normal position until completion of rotation. f i' 22.' In a shiftable and rotatable seat having a pedestal, a seat plate carrier, means on theA pedestal supporting the seat plate carrier for horizontalshiftingfmovement relative `to the pedestal, a seat plate supported Wholly by and rotatable on the seat plate carrier, stop means on the pedestal with which the seat plate cooperates toA normally restrain the latter against rotation, said means including an abutment with which said seat plate carrier normally contacts to limit shifting movement of theseat plate carrier in one direction, lever means for shifting theseat 1 plate carrier relative to the pedestal to release the seat plate from its rotation restraining means and resilient means` connected to the pedestal and the seat plate carrier for returning said carrier and its associated seat position.

23. In a seat, a pedestal, combined rail supporting brackets and stopsl secured to the pedestal, rails carried by said brackets, a seat body plate to normal Supporting device slidably mounted on the rails and adapted to cooperate withl the stops to limit its sliding movement, said device having a rotatable portion adapted for attachment to a seat body.

24. In a seat, a pedestal, supporting rails on the pedestal, a seat plate, 'a seat plate carrier slidably mounted on the rails and on which the seat plate is rotatably supported, stop members for limiting sliding movement of the said seat plate carrier, and means on the pedestal normally cooperating with the seat plate to restrain the latter against rotation.

25. In a shiftable seat having a, pedestal, a seat plate carrier supported by the pedestal and capable of horizontal shifting relative thereto, said seat plate carrier being provided with an annular supporting i'lange, a seat plate, an oiset annular iiange depending from the seat plate and arranged on the supporting flange, retaining means secured to one of said anges and overlapping the other flange to restrain the seat plate against vertical shifting relative to the seat plate carrier, and actuating means for shifting the seat plate carrier and its associated seat plate horizontally relative to the pedestal.

26. A car seat base comprising a pedestal, a slide supported by the pedestal and laterally movable in a uniform horizontal plane over an upper ace thereof, a seat support rotatably mounted on said slide and bearing directly on an upper face thereof whereby it is supported, and means for locking said support against rotation, said locking means being releasable by lateral movement of said slide.

JOHN M. KNIGHT. FREDERICK A. STEVENSON. VICTOR WILLOUGHBY. 

